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How to Determine Which Laptop Is Right for You
by Lynn Holmgren
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Overview
With the number of laptop makes and models available, there's sure to be one to suit every need. As a consumer, it is necessary to take the time to identify and prioritize your needs in order to wade through the market and find the best fit for you. By properly researching and learning about the different components that make up laptop systems, you can prevent being overwhelmed by technological jargon and make a smart choice.
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Type of User
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Step 1
Determine what type of computer user you are: student, business traveler, photographer/videographer or home user. Consider your work, hobbies, and the number of hours you will spend using your computer. Look for at least 1GB of RAM, a hard drive of 60GB or larger and 13-inch or smaller display if you are a student. Consider Apple's 13-inch MacBook, or a similar model .Look for 2-4 GB of RAM, 160GB or larger hard drive, a 12- to 15-inch display, Windows Vista Professional or Windows 7 Professional, and a mobile broadband modem if you are a business traveler. Consider Dell's Latitude or a similar model. Look for 4-8 GB of RAM, a 320GB or larger 7,200-rpm hard drive and a 17-inch or larger display for photographer and videographer use. Consider Apple's 15-17 inch MacBook Pro laptop, a popular style among those working in visual art. Look for 2-4GB of RAM, a hard drive of 250GB or larger, a 14- to 16-inch display and a DVD-burning optical drive for a home use computer. Consider standard mainstream laptop models to which you can add extras.
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Step 2
Consider your budget along with your use needs (including size and portability) to help you determine the right type for you. Choose a UMPC model (5- to 7-inch display) for limited, convenient handheld use. Choose a Netbook (9- to 12-inch display) for an inexpensive but functional laptop for web surfing, email and basic office functions. Choose an ultraportable model (9- to 12-inch display), which is lightweight and slightly more powerful than a Netbook with its ultralow-voltage CPU (central processing unit). Choose a thin and light model (13-inch display) for its balance between ultimate portability plus comfortable size proportions for extended work. Choose a midsize (14- to 16-inch) model, which is the most mainstream, offering affordability and versatility. Choose a desktop replacement (17+-inch display), which offers a sturdy-but-portable design that can also make a good hybrid entertainment center.
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Step 3
Purchase a laptop with an efficient CPU for your needs. The more complex applications you want to smoothly run at the same time, the more advanced CPU you need. Most laptops have a dual-core CPU, but more inexpensive models like Netbooks usually will only have a single-core CPU.
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Step 4
Consider the type of storage and drive you will need. Hard drives, optical drives and external drives are sometimes optional features. The more data, pictures, video you need to store, the larger the drive and storage space you will need. A 60GB hard drive will be fine for the average user. For students, gamers or visual artists, 100GB or more may be more appropriate.
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Step 5
Make sure that the laptop has features that will give you the ability to easily connect to a network or the Internet--modems, Ethernet or a wireless connection.
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- Carefully compare display computers' weights and screen sizes in a store to get a better idea of what you might like. Ask friends or coworkers what type of laptops they use or prefer.
- Carefully compare display computers' weights and screen sizes in a store to get a better idea of what you might like. Ask friends or coworkers what type of laptops they use or prefer.
- Don't buy a laptop without a warranty.
- Don't buy a laptop without a warranty.
